Rogue Wave's Zach Rogue 'Backed by the Album Leaf' at Noise Pop

Festival sets are often about bravado and flash, but as far as songwriter showcases go, it doesn't get any cuter than the charmingly understated performance from Zach Rogue at the Great American Music Hall on Sunday night. Zach was opening for Ben Gibbard (Death Cab for Cutie) at the final show of Noise Pop 2011 -- a citywide festival held annually in San Francisco since 1993.

It was supposed to be a rare solo performance for Zach, while his bandmates in Rogue Wave watched from the sidelines. And while he thanked them genuinely "for showing up," he made them sit and watch while he performed their songs with another musician entirely: the Album Leaf's Jimmy LaValle, who drove up from San Diego to join in on piano for nearly the entire set. The two first-time collaborators even hugged at the set's conclusion. Cute, right?

Not only did Zach perform Rogue Wave cuts acoustically with LaValle, but he even debuted several future Rogue Wave songs, including 'Always Like the Sun,' 'Come Back to Us,' and 'I Could Walk.' Of course, no solo acoustic set would be complete without cleverly chosen covers, and Zach delivered with the likes of Buddy Holly ('Everyday') and Donovan ('Catch the Wind').

Part of Noise Pop's mission is to present showcases that feature indie favorites alongside emerging artists and local talent. With Zach Rogue, they accomplished all of those things at once.